Relapsed neuroblastoma UK study

A team at Newcastle University, led by Professor Deborah Tweddle, are studying the clinical and biological factors associated with relapsed neuroblastoma and how long a child survives following a relapse.

Relapsed neuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma is a type of cancer that mostly affects children. It is one of the most difficult childhood cancers to cure with around 40% five-year survival for children with high-risk neuroblastoma (50% of all cases).

Despite advances in treatment, 50% of children with high-risk neuroblastoma will relapse, and in most relapsed high risk cases, a cure is no longer possible. 

When a child with neuroblastoma relapses, knowing what factors will influence their response to treatment and their length of survival are important. It can help to determine which, if any, treatment at relapse is appropriate for each child. This knowledge may also significantly affect the results when evaluating new therapies for children with neuroblastoma in Phase I and II clinical trials. 

Recent studies also report an increased frequency of recurrent, genetic abnormalities at relapse. This includes gains and losses of chromosomal parts (the genetic blueprint of the cells) and gene mutations for which a targeted treatment exists.

About the study

This study is a retrospective epidemiological and genetic study.

Principal Investigator: Professor Deborah Tweddle 

Sponsor: Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Trust

The team are looking back on previous relapsed and refractory neuroblastoma cases in children and young people aged 0-40 years, from 2000–2022.

The aim is to determine the clinical and genetic factors associated with relapsed neuroblastoma, and identify the factors that affect how long a child survives with relapsed neuroblastoma.

Most importantly, the team hope to identify the new genetic changes associated with relapse, to help develop new drugs for children with relapsed neuroblastoma.

Researchers will link epidemiological, clinical and existing genetic data for recurrent chromosomal changes, and in some cases, gene mutations and treatment information.

The study will also investigate whether a child’s length of survival following relapse is associated with the time interval from diagnosis to relapse. The team will analyse recurrent cases separately from refractory (resistant) cases to see if there is a difference in biology and clinical outcome between the two.

The outcomes from this study will be used to inform future Phase I, II and III clinical trials for children with neuroblastoma.

Find out more

Find out more about the study, including how patient information is collected and the Principal Treatment Centres taking part.

For more information or for any queries, please contact Nermine Basta, Study Coordinator by email at nermine.basta@newcastle.ac.uk